William Godfrey NEILL [30119]

Born: 1846, Belfast N. Ireland

Died: 1900, Tuapeka NZ aged 54

Cause of his death was an accident.

General Notes:

THE COACH ACCIDENT.The inquest touching the death of Mr William Godfrey Neill was opened at the Courthouse, Roxburgh, on Tuesday, before Mr Jabez Burton, acting-coroner, and a jury of six, Thomas Andrew being chosen foreman. Evidence as to identification was given by W. F. Edmond, who, as a friend of deceased, had taken charge of all property found on the body. Adam M'Donald, the coach-driver, deposed that he had 12 passengers on board, and that when coming down Aliens Hill at about 7.30 p.m. the near front wheel came off, the coach capsizing. Deceased occupied the outside box seat, and fell underneath the coach. Witness examined the axle and found that the nut which kept the wheel on had come off. He could not account for the nut coming off, it was a most unusual thing; The axle had been greased at Alexandra by the Company's groom. When the horses got away they took the front carriage and witness was dragged for about 150 yds. The load that was on the coach could have nothing to do with the nut coming off. Evidence as to the accident was also given by Harman J. Beeves, Henry Bobert Law, H. S. Fenwick, W. Absolon Smith (passengers), and Dr W. J. Mullin. All the passengers testified to the sobriety of the driver and his carefulness. The medical evidence showed that deceased's neck had been broken, death resulting instantaneously. The jury having visited the scene of the acoident and examined the cap and axle of the coach and after hearing the evidence, returned the following verdict : "Mr W. G. Neill was accidentally killed by the coach capsizing and falling on him and breaking his neck, caused by the cap unscrewing and the wheel coming off." The jury added a rider that all similar axles on licensed vehicles should be fitted with a pin through the point of the cap and axle.Tuapeka Times 21 April 1900.

THE LATE MR W. G. NEILL.The funeral of the late Mr W. G. Neill, who met with his death in the coach accident near Roxburgh on Monday evening, took place yesterday afternoon. The body left the deceased's late residence in Heriot row at half past two. and was conveyed to its last resting place in the Northern Cemetery. Amongst the large number of citizens present were; Messrs P. C. Neill, R. Neill, J. Rattray. C., W. Rattray, R. Glendining, J. T. Mackerras, Stanley Carr, L. Maclean, William Patrick. William Henderson, Keith Ramsay, C. Ziele, T. R. Fisher, George Fenwick, G. L. Denniston, G. L. Sisc. J. U. Sinclair, Thomas Brydone, A. Bartlcman, J. Sinclair Thomson, C. W. Chamberlain, T. W. Whitson, George Joachim, Murrell, J. M'Farlane, H. Guthrie, A. S. Paterson, J. Marshall, J. Henderson, R. M. Clark, J. Stephenson, W. F. Edmond, A. C. Stronach, H. D. Stronach, A. Michie, T. W. Kempthome, J. Hallett, A. C. Begg, D. E. Theomin, J. H. Morrison, Napier Bell, J. F. Woodhousc, W. Bridgman, J. A, Park, D'Arcy Haggitt, B. Ewing. L. Harris, W. B. A Vigers, H. S. Valentine, T. S. Graham, E. B. Cargill, Hon. Thomas Fergus, Professor Gilray. Dr Burns, and Dean Fitchett. The following members of the Dunedin Stock Exchange, were also present: Messrs John Gage, John Logan, D. Crawford, A. G. Fenwick, H. S. Fenwick, J. C. Ponsonby, N. C. Griffen, Harman J. Reeves, H. R. Law, E. Trytliall, D. G. Davidson, T. Moodio, W. Vivian, and J. A. Chapman. The late William Godfrey Neill, Consul in Otago for the United States of America and the Hawaiian Islands, was born and educated in Belfast, Ireland, and was the fifth son of the late Mr Robert Neill, merchant, of that city. He arrived in Victoria in 1866, and after a few months in that colony crossed over to join his brother. Mr P. C. Neill, in Dunedin, and was with his firm, M'Callum, Neill, and Co., for several years. Having thus gained a knowledge of mercantile life, he entered into business as a general merchant in 1877. The appointments of Consul for the United States and the Hawaiian Islands were conferred upon him in 1895. Mr Neill was married in 1875 to a daughter of the late Sir.Prancis Murphy, of Melbourne, and leaves three sons and two daughters, Mrs Neill is at present on a visit to her mother in Melbourne.Evening Star 19 April 1900 stop